States Implementing New Technology, Concepts at Camp Meetings
Camp Meeting season is in full swing across the nation in the Church of God. From early June through mid-July, state and regional meetings are taking place in various settings and with a variety of schedules.
Camp meeting is not what it used to be. The term “camp meeting” is also of the past, but still invokes the essence of what Church of God delegates, both young and old, expect from these summertime gatherings of ministry, worship and fellowship between ministers and laymen and their families.
Many states have shortened the length of their camp meetings, while others have the traditional Monday through Friday format. While some maintain the tradition of one night speaker, others feature a different speaker every night. Some states have gone to night services only, while others offer a complete day of services, including a featured morning Bible teacher, followed by a morning speaker who may focus on missions, evangelism or youth.
Locations also come in more variety than in the past. While several states still maintain campgrounds and hold services in a tabernacle, over the last several years, many have abandoned the campground concept for a conference center or large church where the delegates gather. A few locations have gone to multiple sites and call them “regional meetings.”
Another aspect which is a sign of the times is camp meetings where services are being streamed live on the internet. This summer, both South Georgia and South Carolina offered this service to those who were not able to attend the event. A. Ray Garner and M. Thomas Propes, administrative bishops of South Georgia and South Carolina respectively viewed the streaming as an evangelism tool and a way to connect the Church of God as a whole. South Georgia’s camp meeting was held June 8-12, while South Carolina will be conducted June 21-26, 2009. All services including Bible Study, morning worship and night services will be streamed. In South Carolina, all services, morning and evening will be streamed. To view the services on line go to: www.sccog.com and click on the “Camp Meeting Live Video Stream” link.
To learn about all scheduled camp meetings in the Church of God, the lineup of speakers, locations and dates, click on the camp meeting graphic on the home page of the Church of God Web site.
South Carolina camp meeting services will be held at the South Carolina Church of God Convention Center in Simpsonville, and will be streamed live as follows:
Sunday, June 21 at 6:00 p.m.
Speaker: Dr. David M. Griffis
Monday, June 22 at 10:30 a.m.
Speaker: Dr. R. Lamar Vest
Monday, June 22 at 6:30 p.m.
Speaker: Tommy Bates
Tuesday, June 23 at 10:30 a.m.
Speaker: Dr. R. Lamar Vest
Tuesday, June 23 at 6:30 p.m.
Speaker: Tommy Bates
Wednesday, June 24 at 10:30 a.m.
Speaker: Dr. Wallace J. Sibley
Wednesday, June 24 at 6:30 p.m.
Speaker: Kip Box
Thursday, June 25 at 10:30 a.m.
Speaker: Dr. R. Lamar Vest
Thursday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m.
Speaker: Kip Box
Friday, June 26 at 10:30 a.m.
Speaker: Dr. R. Lamar Vest
Friday, June 26 at 6:30 p.m.
Youth Night, Mass Youth Choir with Voices of Lee
Speaker: Kip Box
–Cameron Fisher, Coordinator, Church of God Communications
